Blog: http://www.dapplegrey.com.au
Unfortunately I think you're right about the whole developer thing. Councils look favourably on developers because they're subdividing land and getting them more rates; where us KDR'ers are not. Bottom of the pile indeed.
I just don't understand how I can be in the pile, go through all the waiting to get to the top only to find out that something was missing from my application, then I go straight back to the bottom of the pile and have to wait the full 15 day response time again. If any other business did that, you would take your business elsewhere, but they know that there is nothing you can do about it, and you'll just cop it on the chin.